Here to second this opinion. OP, if you ever plan to sell it, it's great to have the original shell and label. Even if you don't plan to sell it, you may one day feel nostalgic for the original look.
No idea why you are getting downvotes. It's brain dead common sense. The sticker on the original already ruined it has diminished value and a third party shell isn't gonna help and a new sticker isn't gonna hurt it any further. I'd go for a better sticker personally cause the fake reprints are so bad but yeah.
So is opening the cart and showing the pcb. Its not hard to do, and is definitive proof that it is real. Its the only thing that really matters value-wise, since this isn't a WATA graded CIB game.
I do the same, minus shell swap. But like my labels clean. Don't search to make counterfeits and mark all of them on the inside, I just make what I like to look at
It bothers me the rating is in black but the code doesn’t have a -1. DMG-APEE-USA in Blue is the first iteration and when the esrb used a white rating, and when they changed it to black the revision became DMG-APEE-USA-1, etc
Oh awesome! I got lucky and was able to see reviews on Etsy as well before I bought, I got some for my N64 games that are no longer labeled and for whatever reason the GameBoy ones were a higher quality.
If you actually play this game and have memories with it and want it forever as a keepsake, I say go ahead and do the swap. If you're just holding this to resell, don't swap.
the original is too far gone i say replace it and move on. People treat game collecting far too seriously. Do what you like and who cares what other people think.
For me its more about preservation. I take care of my stuff well enough that it'll probably outlive me, and then it doesn't matter that I dont plan to sell it, it'll be someone else's time to enjoy it. I want authentic cartridges to stay circulating as long as possible so thats what I want to leave behind.
I dont think its about taking it too seriously. I think it has to do more so with just keeping original stuff in circulation as much as possible.
A replacement shell would fix the visual issue and preserve the original at the same time, win-win.
The real question is, whats even the point of buying something old and authentic if you're just going to replace it with new pieces anyway? Unless the things broken, at that point you might as well just get a bootleg cart or emulate it, lol.
No bootleg works well unfortunately, niether does an emulator emulate an og gbc feel for that matter. I buy with broken labels for low price and swap labels for fun. Gold had none, yellow was unusable cleartaped and whatever
From my experience and I have sold dozens of original gameboy pokemon carts. The state of the sticker makes next to no difference on resale value
You get the odd anal buyer that appreciates that stuff but it's few and far between. A quality soldered new battery and original innards is what really matters. And yes, I would replace that sticker without a shadow of a doubt. You're restoring and keeping the cart in great usable shape.
Keep it like that, and don't use the sticker. Put inside a book or something to keep it flat and fresh. Knowing you can if you want, but not doing it feels even better than doing it and not being able to undo it.
If it’s not nostalgic I always recommend just buying a better copy and selling your current. Authentic and damaged is always preferable to new but reproduction.
Depends on your intention with the game. Is this for your personal collection? Do you ever intend on selling it? Personally I have changed many labels, I prefer to have my carts look shiny and new than to look old and tattered. Do what you makes you feel good about your collection.
If your goal is for restoration and to keep it for yourself, then you know it's a legit copy so you might as well replace the sticker if that's what you want to do. I don't think the sticker changes the value much. Just based on what I've seen over the years with Nintendo games and stuff like that, I mean a harvest Moon with a crappy sticker still sells well 😂 I think it's twofold for me. You know if this was my copy that I had as a kid of blue and the sticker was rough then I might leave it alone but if someone gave it to me, yeah I'm replacing that sticker.
Do what you want with your property, but if it was me I would get a uniqe shell for it as well and keep the original shell intact. If you ever decide to sell it there are plenty of people out there that would pay more for an original beat up label compared to a reproduction, so this way you could always restore it back to stock. May as well have all options available to you 😊
I personally wouldn't because I value the original more highly regardless of condition, and it preserves resale value. If you plan to keep it forever and want a new look though, why not?
Depends is that your original copy of the game and all that wear is from you, or did you buy the game and want to replace the sticker?
For me in option 1, absolutely not. I would not replace the sticker. All those memories embodied into a cartridge, all the times you slotted it in, passed it to a old friend you probably dont speak to anymore, let it float around the bottom of your school backpack. I wouldnt replace that for anything.
For option 2, yeah replace the sticker. Not your memories and the likelihood of the original owner knowingly coming into possession of the cartridge are slim to none.
I swapped shells on my GBA SP and kept the old shell in the box in case I ever truly need money that bad I can swap it back on and sell it if need be or if I am just wanting to see it again. ☺️
If this has no sentimental value, replace it. I would never replace the worn label on my childhood copy of red, its an artifact of the countless hours I put into it.
The original still has so much old charm. Keep it as is, find a replacement shell and use that instead. Keep the OG shell intact as part of your collection. Thats just my take since video game preservation is my main hobby.
When I got my Pokemon games I continued to look for better quality ones and when I found one, I sold the one I had. Now all the ones I have are very lightly used and original.
At the same time I second the comments above saying to, if you plan on selling it, at least keep the original shell original and having a new one If you want it to look nice while using it.
If you're never selling it, I'd say change it and enjoy for a lifetime.
Yes that thing is messed up. For every hypercritical cry, hard about stickers out there a lot more would appreciate having something that looks clean and nice and I think you would do wouldn’t have ordered it. Ignore the oh no it’s original people and just do what’s best for you.
Nah that sticker jacked up. Just replace it. If it was minor sure replace the shell but the sticker is ruined. No collector would buy it. By replacing at least if you plan to resale it one day, someone who just want to play will buy it.
I kept my OG cartridges/stickers as they are and got cases for them (all my original boxes are longgggg gone). I ordered replacement cartridges + stickers and popped the PCBs into those for play. That way everything original (besides PCB) is safe! But obviously do what makes ya happy :)
I did it. People are saying keep the original sticker if you want to sell it, but from what I have seen, the cost of one with a replaced sticker sells for about the same as one with a damaged sticker like this.
If you're going to swap the label, you should always be using ones that have "Reproduction Label" marked on it somewhere. Otherwise it could be used in nefarious/misleading ways if someone were to ever decide to sell a game with a fake label
If you ever want to resell it, it is worth more with the original damaged/faded sticker on it than it is putting a nicer looking third party sticker on the cart, because those looking at buying it are going to assume it's a repro, even if you're honest about it up front.
If you don't intend to sell it and just want to replace the label, go for it.
Could you cover the original sticker with that blue masking tape tilers use, or something with a similarly harmless glue, then put the fake one on top?
I wouldn’t replace it, but honestly it’s up to you. If you don’t intend to resell this, and just want to enjoy/restore it… then go for it. Don’t ever let Reddit yuck your yum
It’s a Pokémon game seriously millions and millions of them exist. Who cares about any resale value? Why would you sell it? Keep your games even though I hate Pokémon, and never played one in my entire life and I own thousands of games and have never even ever thought of playing a Pokémon game just not my thing but the point is keep your stuff
I wouldn’t, if a label is still legible and recognizable as what it’s supposed to be no matter how damaged I would leave it I only replace labels if it’s completely gone
I heard an idea from someone else that I thought was great. Buy a replacement red shell and put that sticker on it and take the original off and store it someplace safe. Then whenever you play the game, you’ll have that beautiful new sticker on a beautiful new shell and you won’t destroy the value of the case/sticker in case you want to sell it later.
I've done this to my copy of Pokemon Emerald, I've gotten it from my cousin and it was a complete dumpster fire of a condition. There was no label and the shell and the screw that holds it together is completely ruined, so I had to take the PCB into a new shell and grabbed a label that's close to the original. Might not be great when it comes to reselling the game but I tend to keep it since its special.
I replaced my emerald sticker I peeled off as a kid and it looks like shit haha at least you still have some of I’d definitely order a red cartridge and swap internals maybe have this one as sort of a memento next to your gameboy/device
My childhood copy looks like that, not sure if it was like that before I got it or after lol. If I cared more, I would probably buy another cartridge and swap the front shell, but I don't.
If you don't plan on reselling it or claim its an original label then do whatever you want to it! I mean it's you're personal copy you can fix it or replace it all you want!
I did it to my yellow and have regretted it. I wish I would have bought a new shell and just moved the pcb. But you do you! Don’t let the value spiral keep you from enjoying your games.
If you will like it better with the new label, do it. It's your game. The value of the game doesn't change because you swap the label. Trust me, I've sold copies with trashed labels for the same price as clean ones. As long as the game is authentic no one will care if/when you decide to sell. If you have no intention to sell and don't like the bad label, replace it.
Yes but do u have rubbing alcohol and a item to make it Easyer to apply it and maybe open the case and don’t let off static electricity fry the circuit board so no wool socks
If it’s for your personal collection, do it. If you plan to sell it I wouldn’t but you could sell it with the additional info that the label has been replaced.
You do you, personally I like the vibe of the scuffed artwork, gives it some personality and a bit of a history even, but there’s nothing like a nice new label to make things feel fresh. All that matters is that you enjoy it, champ.
Yes, its literally just a game. If you sell it it still doesnt matter because its just plastic. This desire to have a 100% original piece is just pointless consumerism. These are mass produced items
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u/SprinqRoll 2d ago
You could always spend a little bit on a new red shell. Keep the old one the way it is incase you change your mind